Dutchess County wants state approval to install temporary buildings like these at the jail in Poughkeepsie to house inmates now boarded out of the county. / Courtesy/Dutchess County

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Poughkeepsie Journal

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To read the state Commission of Correction’s letter, visit www.poughkeepsiejournal.com, and for an archive of jail articles, visit www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/jail.

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Taxpayers could see a few million dollars in annual savings if Dutchess County adds temporary buildings to the jail to alleviate overcrowding — though state and county officials are still working out the details.

The minimum-security structures are meant to eliminate the problems with housing out about 200 inmates per day across the state, including transportation, logistics and delayed court processes, while a county consultant determines where a new jail should be built and how big it should be.

But Dutchess may face difficulty getting approval for temporary jail space from the state regulatory agency that oversees county jails and wants more than a quick fix. The Commission of Correction’s stipulations could hamper the county’s goal for installation in early 2014. And a delay in hiring a consultant to study jail overcrowding further may mean additional difficulties in the approval process.

The commission long has pressured the county to stop housing out inmates, which prevents them from seeing their families and taking part in rehabilitation programs. A strained relationship resulted from the county’s reluctance to expand jail capacity.

Requirements

Last year, County Executive Marc Molinaro made jail overcrowding a priority. He wants to lease the temporary jail buildings, called pods, and bring back inmates, he said.

County Budget Director Val Sommerville estimated the pods will cost $2.1 million but will save the county $2.3 million annually from 2014 through 2017. There will be added costs to provide these inmates food and medical services, plus overtime for correction officers, jail officials said.

Before it will approve temporary jail pods, the commission wants a “substantial commitment” that a new, larger jail or a permanent expansion at the City of Poughkeepsie 292-bed facility will be built soon after the pods are installed.

Yet, during a June 10 Legislature meeting, Molinaro told county legislators that if they approved the $1.2 million needed to fund the jail study called Project Definition, the commission would allow the county to install pods.

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“The vote you take tonight … will be the necessary good-faith step on this county’s part, as part of a comprehensive solution, for the state Commission on Corrections (sic) to authorize this county to place temporary housing pods on the current county jail facility,” he said. “This is not an easy vote.”

Earlier on June 10, during an Editorial Board meeting with the Journal, Molinaro said, “We are confident that the Commission on Corrections (sic), should we take this next step and begin the (request for proposals) process, will be satisfied and … will authorize the pods.”

The commission, however, sent a letter June 25 to Sheriff Butch Anderson that says the Legislature’s funding approval “does not commit to the construction of a correctional facility or of a permanent addition to the present facility.” The Journal obtained the letter via a Freedom of Information request.

The commission defined the commitment it wants from Dutchess as “some blend of legislative actions,” including site-plan selection for the new or expanded jail, the start of architectural designs, a capital projects fund and sanctioning bonding of the project.

Site selection

William O’Neil, deputy county executive, said the commission’s letter raised concerns initially because “what they are asking for we can’t do in the immediate future.”

The selection of a site for the new or expanded jail and its design are part of the Project Definition phase, which hasn’t started and may take up to 18 months, county officials have said.

The holdup has been a health issue with the county’s physical facilities director, Roman Yasiejko, who is on restricted work hours, county spokeswoman Colleen Pillus said. Dutchess may hire a third-party vendor to draft the request for proposals to “keep the process moving,” she said.

As for meeting the state’s level of commitment, after the state’s letter was received, Molinaro spoke to the commission about the stipulations and “cleared the air,” O’Neil said.

“I didn’t ask them if (the stipulations) are off the table, but from the things they said, they led us to believe they want to work with us,” he said.

Commission spokeswoman Janine Kava said continuing discussions with the county might “likely result in changes to the stipulations included in the letter.”